Exeter saves best for last in repeating as swim champions

DURHAM — The ruling sent a shockwave through the building. Exeter High School coach Greig Cronauer pleaded has case with the officials, but there was no appease coming.

RYAN O'LEARY

DURHAM — The ruling sent a shockwave through the building. Exeter High School coach Greig Cronauer pleaded has case with the officials, but there was no appease coming.

An official had disqualified Exeter senior Patrick Carignan in the 100-yard breaststroke, and with just one event remaining in Saturday's Division I swimming and diving championship meet, Exeter's repeat bid was very much in doubt.

"It didn't raise the anxiety level for us," Exeter junior Kellen Gray said of the moment, "it just raised the anger for us. That just (ticked) us off more than they could imagine. We all said that, no matter what happens, 'Don't let Bishop Guertin win.'"

Not even a chance. Rewriting the state's history books in the 400 freestyle relay, the Exeter boys capped their latest championship run with a resounding statement.

Gray teamed with Zach Bishop, Ethan VanderWoude and James Mundy to set a new state record by over 3 seconds (3:17.55), and when the final points were tallied, the Blue Hawks edged swim rival Bishop Guertin by two points to win the Division I state title for the second straight year.

"Certainly relief," Carignan, a team captain, said of the tense finish. "I felt bad knowing that it was going to come down to the wire. I was going to feel incredibly guilty about it, but everybody swam their best, and overall we came out on top."

Exeter added a title in the 200 medley relay — besting its 2013 state record (1:38.71) — and got an individual state title in the 100 backstroke from Gray, who at 52.8 seconds came 0.33 shy of another state mark.

The Blue Hawks finished with 232 points as a team. Guertin followed with 230 points for its second straight runner-up finish, and Bedford was third with 196½ points.

Winnacunnet got individual titles in both the 100 fly and 200 medley from star junior Connar Patterson. The Warriors placed ninth as a team with 66 points.

There was less drama on the girls side. Bedford dominated, covering second-place Bishop Guertin 246-180½. Dover was third with 175½ points. The Exeter girls placed seventh (100) with Winnacunnet following in 11th (45).

Carignan's DQ in the 100 breaststroke came down to an obscure kicking violation. Swimmers are allowed one "dolphin kick" — the move that propels them underwater off the wall — during their breaststroke pullouts. Carignan, much to his amazement, was ruled to have done three during one turn.

"I don't even know how to do that," Carignan said. "I was very against the call, but I can't do anything about it."

Carignan was put at ease by his own teammates, who assured him they would get the points back.

They had come out of the gates flying. Gray, Bishop, Carignan and Mundy combined to win the 200 medley relay title, breaking the state record by 3.36 seconds. Later, Bishop placed second in 200 free (1:45.19) and Carignan took third in the 200 individual medley to put points on the board.

Mundy placed second in his patented sprint events: the 50 free and the 100 free. The senior missed a repeat title in the 50 by all of 0.02 seconds, edged by BG's Joseph Moleski.

Gray also played a crucial role. He was part of three state titles and placed second in the 100 fly to Patterson, his good friend and teammate with the club Exeter Swim Team.

"We're actually kind of like brothers," Patterson said of Gray. "Our families hang out, go on vacations together and everything. So I wouldn't really say it's a rivalry, but it's really fun to race."

Exeter senior Scott Brockelbank took second place in the 1-meter dive, which was moved from Friday to Saturday due to snow. For the girls, Exeter sophomore Kaleha Kegode took third place.

The Exeter girls were led by captain Katie Arend, who took third in the 100 breaststroke and fifth in the 200 free. She also paired with Isabel Roche, Brianna Thompson and Melissa Roy to place fourth in the 200 medley relay.

Roche, racing in the third heat, added sixth place in the 500 free and Thompson took eighth in the 50 free for the Hawks.

For Winnacunnet, the boys set a team record in the 200 medley relay, taking fifth place overall behind Patterson, Ben Kotzen, John Wilusz and Tom Mason.

The Warrior girls got a seventh-place finish from captain Alexis Wilusz in the 100 fly. She also paired with Madison Stetz, Catherine Casassa and Allison Gallant to place sixth in the 200 medley relay.

"I actually was really surprised at how well we did," Wilusz said of the girls. "I'm really proud to be a captain this year. Our team has taken such big leaps."

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The Division II swimming and diving championship — which includes Portsmouth, St. Thomas and Oyster River — was postponed until today due to Saturday's storm.

The Meet of Champions, originally scheduled for today, has been canceled.

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